SIBU: An elderly man was sentenced to six years in prison and fined RM5,000, failing which he will serve an additional five months’ imprisonment, after being charged in the Kapit Sessions Court on Wednesday for committing mischief by fire.
Galang Egoh, 69, from Sungai Rian Ulu in the Kapit District, pleaded no contest to the charge before Judge Musyiri Peet.
He understood the charge and the consequences of maintaining his guilty plea after it was read and explained to him through an interpreter.
Galang was indicted on a charge of committing mischief by fire, knowing it was likely to cause damage to a motor vehicle parked in front of a retail shop at Simpang Empat, Jalan Melekun, in Kapit, on April 1 at 4:50 am.
As such, he was charged under Section 436 of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to 14 years and also carries a possible fine upon conviction.
In presenting the brief facts of the case, DPP Mark Kenneth Netto informed the court that on April 1 at 4:40 am, the complainant lodged a police report stating that his motor vehicle, which was parked in front of a retail shop at Simpang Empat Melekun in Kapit, had been set on fire by an unknown individual.
The vehicle was completely destroyed beyond repair, and the complainant was unable to claim any compensation from the insurance company as it was covered under a third-party risk policy.
On the same day at about 3:30 pm, acting on information received, a team of police led by Sergeant Tony Ng arrested the accused at an abandoned construction site opposite Pasar Tersang in Kapit.
Galang, who was unrepresented, failed to pay the fine and will serve an additional five months in prison.
